Ride it like it’s 1997
James buys back into TL1000S ownership…
BACK IN 1998 I HAD AN ORIGINAL 1997 Suzuki TL1000S after signing for Team Suzuki. It was my first big capacity road bike and I loved it. Mine was a red, full power version without the steering damper but with Remus end cans for the wonderful V-twin bellow. I had some enormous flighty tank slappers but it was nothing that race bikes didn’t do so it never bothered me. With hindsight we know it bothered others and tragically killed a few (so they were recalled, given steering dampers and had their power knocked back around 13bhp to try and tame it). Hence the unfortunate widow maker nick name. Roll on 20 years and I saw a really good one at a dealer with the spec I wanted. A 1997 full power one, black, 15,000 miles, all original except a common rear suspension mod (I have all the original bits), a nice full history with old Mots. Not concourse but very nice. £2650 later it was loaded up and has been sitting in my (packed) garage since. Spring 2018 and the weather’s improved so I took her for a run with the boys: can a 21-year-old 123bhp V-twin still cut it? Yes it can. The A413 from Aylesbury to Buckingham is an old favourite and the TL is spot-on. The balance and handling are still sublime and I had a huge grin as we reacquainted. It’s an effortless, thrilling creature you think to the apex and place where you desire. It has a light front end and loves a wheelie. The V-twin feels a tad slower than I remember but on the road its ideal and still plenty quick enough. It was nice to grab something by the scruff of its neck and use 90% of its limits not 50% like a lot of newer stuff.